Announcement of First Public Comment Period for the Draft Technical Support Document on the Proposed Update of the Public Health Goal for 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the availability of the draft technical support document for the proposed update of the Public Health Goal (PHG) for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) in drinking water. The draft document recommends an updated PHG of 0.002 parts per billion (ppb), which is essentially the same as the 1999 PHG of 0.0017 ppb when rounded. Both the 1999 and the proposed updated PHGs are based on cancer effects. The draft document also retains the health-protective concentration of 0.2 ppb for noncancer effects. The risk assessment in the document considers recent toxicological literature and incorporates updated risk and exposure assessment methodologies.
The PHG technical support document, available for download below, provides information on the health effects of contaminants in drinking water. The PHG is a level of drinking water contaminant at which adverse health effects are not expected to occur from a lifetime of exposure. The California Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996[1] requires OEHHA to develop PHGs based exclusively on public health considerations.[2] PHGs published by OEHHA are considered by the State Water Resources Control Board in setting California’s drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels, or MCLs).[3]
OEHHA is soliciting comments on the draft document during a 45-day public comment period. The public is encouraged to submit written comments via the following link: https://oehha.ca.gov/comments or they can be e-mailed to PHG.Program@oehha.ca.gov with DBCP in the subject line. Hard copy comments may be mailed or hand delivered to the address below. Any written comments concerning this draft PHG document, regardless of the form or method of transmission, must be received by the PHG program by 5:00 p.m. on May 13, 2019 to be considered.
The Office will hold a public workshop on May 13, 2019 at the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California, 95814, Training Room 1 East/West, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. or until business is concluded, whichever occurs first. OEHHA follows the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code Sections 57003(a) and 116365 for conducting the workshop and receiving public input.
The workshop is provided to enable a dialogue between OEHHA scientists and the public to discuss the scientific basis of the proposed PHG updates, and to receive comments. After the public workshop, OEHHA will submit the draft risk assessment for external scientific peer review.[4]
Following the workshop, public comment period and external scientific peer review, OEHHA will evaluate all the comments received, revise the document as appropriate, and make it available for a 30-day public comment period. After any subsequent revisions, the final document will be posted on the OEHHA website along with responses to the external peer review comments and to major comments received at the workshop and during the two public comment periods.
If you would like to receive further information on this announcement or have questions, please contact Hermelinda Jimenez at PHG.Program@oehha.ca.gov or at (916) 324-7572.
Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
California Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 4010, MS-12B
1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95812
Attention: PHG Program
- Comment Submissions - Announcement of First Public Comment Period for the Draft Technical Support Document on the Proposed Update of the Public Health Goal for 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane
Link to Public Comments
- 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane